FREE family friendly entertainment, activities, live music, art receptions and a car show in Downtown Lakeland tonight March 1 at Lakeland’s monthly First Friday event.

First Friday is one of the most popular recurring events in Lakeland. Every month, on the first Friday of the month (hence the name), people from all over converge in Downtown Lakeland for an evening of FREE family friendly entertainment, activities, live music, art receptions, a car show, and, of course, the chance to check out a great, locally-owned restaurant or retail establishment. Each month, First Friday has a different theme, and special activities are provided to complement the theme.

One of the highlights of this First Friday will take place at “Paint Along Studios” on Kentucky Avenue. Owner Dave Collins is showcasing in the Studio theworks of 28 year old artist Aaron Corbitt. Aaron is an artist with a vision of reflecting Lakeland’s diversity through the faces of some of its noteworthy residents by painting their portraits. Those portraits will go on display for the first time at Paint Along Studios on First Friday, March 1.

Aaron Corbitt is an artist with a vision of reflecting his community’s diversity through the faces of some of its more noteworthy residents. It was just an idea that I kind of had for about two years before it came to fruition,” Corbitt explained.

The 28-year-old artist is using his talents to paint portraits of some of Lakeland’s most famous faces. Those portraits will go on display and for sale March 1st in downtown Lakeland. “We decided that we would paint 60 portraits so that we could get the word out that we have a young, capable artist in our midst here in Lakeland that can paint as good a portrait as anybody anywhere,” he said. Among the faces Corbitt is painting is Lakeland Mayor Gow Fields, local philanthropist Alice O’Reilly, State Legislator Seth McKeel and WFLA Anchor (and lifelong Lakeland resident) Jennifer Leigh. Some of the portraits reflect lesser known residents who have still have important impacts on the community.

Following first Friday at 9 p.m. walk on down to Mitchell’s coffee house, warm up with good java (you may need it tonight) and enjoy IMPROV ADDICtTS perform their zany improvisations, with audience suggestions and participation which always seem to be a big First Friday hit.

About This Blog

I was thrilled to be asked by The Ledger to become its first theatre blogger. Already writing preview articles about Polk County’s community theatres and feature articles for Inside Polk Magazine, I thought blogging would be fun and fulfill a need for the community.

I have long been on a soap box about the abundance of available local entertainment. When someone complains that there is not much to do culturally in Polk County, I am not shy about telling them that they just aren’t looking. So I am thrilled to be able to let the local community know, via my blog, about all the wonderful and varied theatrical venues and performances that are available in Polk County, sometimes in very surprising places.